7 Quick Takes (Volume 262)--The 50th Birthday Edition

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I can hardly believe it, but today is my 50th birthday. Yep. Let the teasing begin. This summer I was none too happy about this day approaching, but today I can honestly say I am. 50 years! Half a century! I have history, people! (Or I AM history . . . which is it?)

And so, to commemorate such an occasion, I've dug out pictures of my 50 years of life to remember where I've come from and mark the goodness of God in my life.

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I was a surprise baby, coming 9 months after my parents' wedding. My mother had been told she couldn't have children. Somebody was wrong, ya think?




I have good memories of childhood--playing with cousins, falling asleep at the drive-in theater, my mom supplying kool-aid and shoestring potatoes for tea parties with my little sister, and every little girl's dream, baby kitties. Here is a pic of little kindergartner Tami.

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The entrance to my second decade was marked by the arrival of my twin brothers when I was ten and my sister was eight. This picture is from my 11th birthday. My sister is on the left, a good friend on the right, and my brothers sit on my lap. I think I liked those little boogers. (Confession: still do.)


The teen years weren't too kind to me however. My girls were TONS prettier at 15 than I was. Can you say WOOF?


Here's proof I had a love of lizards BEFORE Ladies Man and Elmo. Meet my little chameleon I called Igor.


I think my senior picture proves I was alive and well during the Farrah Fawcett years.

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My twenties were full. I got married.


I taught junior high and high school math at Lincoln Christian. This picture is me at the quarter century mark. Don't you love the flying nun collar?


I also became a mother. Twice. Drummer Boy was born in 1990.


Drama Queen came in 1993. This picture was taken a few weeks before her first birthday when I was 30.

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God blessed us with two more kids in my thirties. Ladies Man came in 1995. Can you believe this kid was ever this small?! Believe it or not, he was my smallest baby! And obviously this picture was taken shortly after his birth. I look totally out of it!


Princess Dawdle made the scene in 1998. Here she is at five months old and me at 35.

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The year I turned 40 was a big year for our family. Princess Dawdle started kindergarten and I felt like the oldest mother alive. Drama Queen started middle school and Drummer Boy started high school. How in the world did I stay upright?

Must be the grace of God, because a few short years later, the migration of kids from our home began which has proven to be the toughest thing yet on this mama's heart. Drummer Boy started it off in 2008.



Drama Queen followed suit in 2011.


But some really cool things happened in my forties too. I started eating healthier and feel great, better than I ever did in my thirties. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.


And I got to take an amazing trip to Africa.







All of this, plus tons of time with my wonderful family and friends. I really enjoyed my forties.

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And now I'm on to bigger and better things as I start the fifties. What might be next? What wonderful thing is on the horizon?

We might be planning a wedding or two, maybe even welcoming some grandkids into the mix. Weird. But I am up for it, I tell you.

50. Pshht. What's to be upset about? Life is very, very good. And the best is yet to come. It makes me want to do the happy dance . . . or at least sing a little ditty.

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.

Psalm 13:5-6

Good indeed. I hope you take some time to reflect on God's goodness to you this weekend and find more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.